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Gus's avatar

I was 2.5 months into a job that would’ve paid me a $10K sign on bonus at 3 months. My boss was ridiculous in many bad ways and I couldn’t take one more day. With two little kids and a stay-at-home mom whose security I was responsible for providing, I left for lunch, canceled my 1 o’clock, and never went back. Thankfully, it was summer and I got to spend two glorious months enjoying time with my wife and kids before I landed a new job with better pay and a much better culture. I decided my mental health was worth more $10K and it was one of the best decisions of my life!

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Perfectly Imperfect Lynne's avatar

I left a stable hospital job as a health information management professional at the age of 40 quite simply because I didn't want to be the person to wait till retirement (at 55) to start living. That place sucked the life out of me. I was the resource person there, and I was too heavily relied upon as well. No, I didn't make more money to be that resource person. I've had a few stepping-stone jobs since then. I'm now working a medical records summarizer for Share Lawyers. I like knowing that what I do really makes a difference in people's lives. When we settle cases (we win a whole lot of cases), we get lovely comments from our clients. The comment "You saved my life" really speaks to me. It's a job in the background, but it is very important nonetheless, finding the good, the bad, and the ugly in those voluminous medical records, translating from French to English as well if need be.

Government inefficiency, yes, I know about that. Little story. When I worked at the hospital, they went about hiring a temporary clerk. This took quite a bit of time just for a temp job. Five department managers were present to interview the 3 prospective employees. This looked like a firing squad to me. I wonder why because they ended up hiring the least experienced of the 3. You see, they would get a grant for hiring the newly graduated local college student. A lot of wasted time for someone ultimately who didn't quite work out. This really bugged me as I actually knew the 2 other prospective employees, uber talented people with a lot of experience just wanting to get a foot in the door at the hospital that could eventually provide them with secure employment. One was my twin sister. It was definitely their loss. My twin is actually working alongside me at Share Lawyers now. I love that. Everything happens for a reason, even if you don't quite understand that reason when it's happening to you.

Have a great day everyone!

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Perfectly Imperfect Lynne's avatar

Little suggestion, I'd love to be able to edit my comments. I do my best proofreading after I hit send ;).

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Don In Exile's avatar

I retired from an airline job after 30 plus years. Went to work for the Feds. I knew it was a bad fit almost immediately but at age 57 I figured I was stuck. I stayed 8 years - I am turning 66 this month - and just retired for the second time. Was it worth it? I'm still trying to figure that out.......

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Chris's avatar

RE: A brief message before we begin…STOP WITH THIS!

Today is the last day of the first week of my new hobby: Searching for effective (but not overly annoying) ways to ask free newsletter readers to consider paid memberships … so we can keep Understandably.com going and turn it into something amazing.

My sincere, heartfelt thanks to everyone who has already upgraded to paid. Now, I shall end this initial effort with the following dignified, reserved, subtle solicitation.

Please! Please, please, please! Please! Can you do it? Please? Pretty please! Please think about upgrading to a paid membership! The link is right here, or you can click the button below, and if you can’t it’s OK because I still love you and I value all readers, but please, please, please, please, please?!!!

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Cindy Novak's avatar

Thanks for sharing Bill! Another great newsletter!!!

Everyone, if you haven’t already, subscribe today!!!

Happy weekend everyone! 😊😊😊

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Carol Kalvelage's avatar

You did it!! Lol...I subscribed 💜💃 I absolutely loved this article...and admire your Spirit. The best things in life are not things!! Better days are ahead my dear! Thank you for your story.

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Zach Myers's avatar

My heart has always been in healthcare business development and sales, but after nearly 16 years I was getting burned out by all the silos and culture of mediocrity. I felt uninspired and unappreciated. So, I took a job that paid me a 6 figure base and was kind of in shock when the offer came in. I knew it wasn't a great fit, but being a Capricorn, figured I could just keep working until I learned to love the pain of working in an industry I didn't have a passion for - LOL. Five months later, and after a series of RIF's, I was let go. My supervisor at the time said it had nothing to do with me or my performance and while it was a huge disappointment, there was also a sense of relief. Within 3 months I started a new job back in the healthcare space and while I took a large cut in salary, I knew I was back where I belong. Now, I've been with my company for 13 months and have been promoted twice. Crazy how things work out when you follow your heart.

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Lori Lightfoot's avatar

I plan to make a crazy (to some) career move soon and I love hearing stories where it worked out for others. Very encouraging and thanks for the platform!

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D. Richard Carlson's avatar

But hey, did you forgot to mention high-demand restaurant? “…at fast food places like KFC[, Chick-fil-A,] and Popeyes.…” Can this restaurant-with-insanely-long-string-of-cars-at-drive-thru Chick-fil-A restaurant” make the case on chicken shortage? See twitter.com/drichardcarlson/status/1388138760706080769

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Bill Murphy Jr.'s avatar

Your tweet says it's protected & can't be viewed!

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D. Richard Carlson's avatar

Thanks Bill for alert on this one. I unchecked that "Protect" setting.

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Lynn Marie Auzenne's avatar

Hi, Bill,

I have subscribed to your newsletter and have a paid subscription to Understandably. But I keep getting these emails asking me to pay. Is there anyway you can scrub that list of people who you have already converted?

Much appreciated,

L

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Bill Murphy Jr.'s avatar

Ellie Mae, I so appreciate you signing up. I am going to look into how to do this. On this platform (Substack) it's a trickier problem than you might think. At the very least, my plan is (now that my launch week is over), is to include the CTAs in a less-intrusive way. I hope you'll stick with me, it's an issue I'm trying to work through. Thank you!

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Bill Murphy Jr.'s avatar

Guess what Ellie Mae? Your comment lit a fire under me, and I figured out how to do exactly what you asked. Thank you very much!

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Mary Kay's avatar

I subscribed because I'd rather pay to read you than some of that free stuff. This is meant to be a compliment. And also I have a new job where I don't have as much time to read anything & I have chosen to take time to read Understandably.

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Greg Scott's avatar

Bill, I cannot relate to your story about quitting your job after one day. Maybe I know there are times that I SHOULD have related and done just that! The main thing that you said at the end though, is absolutely true - we should not worry about that project we screwed up, or the speech that didn't go so well or that time the boss heard us talking about him/her in the bathroom. Either from fear, or hubris or financial insecurity, we hate making mistakes. Ultimately, it is how we learn, and things usually work out for the best (especially if you believe in faith!).

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SPW's avatar

😂😂😂 Groveling works?

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Diane Erckman's avatar

Unsubscribe me PLEASE, thank you

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Bill Murphy Jr.'s avatar

Done

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Carrie Pedri's avatar

Happy subscriber here! Great article once again, Bill!

10 years ago, I made a career change more in line with my degree. I left my job as a public school teacher for the private sector. On day 1 at 8:15 am, the VP of our division asked everyone to meet in the conference room. I asked if that meant me too as I was supposed to meet with HR soon for on boarding. She said yes, so I filed in behind everyone and took a seat. What followed was a jaw-dropping, very loud butt-chewing of everyone in the room for something that had happened before I was employed there. After 45 mins of venom-spewing, we were released. I walked back to my desk wondering if I should call my principal and get my job back. I’m amazed that I lasted almost two years there; it was such a toxic place. I left there with some new job prospects but nothing solid. I spent the next three months volunteering in my son’s 2nd grade class and spending more time with my three-year-old daughter before landing my current job, which I love!

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